Spent his formative years playing golf at Virginia Country Club in Long Beach, California under the tutelage of Jamie Mulligan, a longtime PGA of America member

In 2019, established the Patrick Cantlay Foundation, which partners with initiatives that support the game of junior golf, as well as programs assisting and advocating on behalf of first responders.

Honored by the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA) as the recipient of the 2020 Ben Hogan Award. (Due to COVID, the annual awards ceremony was postponed until 2022.) The Ben Hogan Award, first awarded to Babe Zaharias in 1954, is given to a player who has overcome a physical handicap or serious injury to remain active in golf. Past recipients include Ken Venturi (1966), Lee Trevino (1980), Calvin Peete (1983), Paul Azinger (1995), and Tiger Woods (2019).

Inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022. Cantlay's induction class included Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Gerrit Cole, former NFL running back DeShaun Foster (who later returned to UCLA as head coach of the football program), and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Dawn Harper-Nelson (100-meter hurdles).

Film enthusiast. Quentin Tarantino is among his favorite directors, and he enjoys the Lord of the Rings books and movies.

Attended UCLA even though both his parents are USC grads.

Has three younger siblings, all of whom play golf competitively.

Made eight PGA TOUR starts as an amateur, with his highest finish being a T9 at the 2011 RBC Canadian Open. Also recorded a 10-under 60 -- the lowest round by an amateur on TOUR -- in the second round of the 2011 Travelers Championship, where he carried a one-stroke lead into the weekend and eventually finished T24.

Rose to No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for the first time in March 2011, though he spent just one week atop the ranking. Returned to No. 1 in June 2011 and held the top spot for 54 consecutive weeks -- a record which stood until Keita Nakajima recorded 74 consecutive weeks at No. 1 across 2021 and 2022 -- only ceding his position to turn professional following the 2012 U.S. Open.

Played two seasons at UCLA (2010-12), where he earned four individual victories (all as a freshman in the 2010-11 season) and broke school records for career scoring average (70.80) and single-season scoring average (70.49 in 2010-11).

Posted one of the greatest freshman seasons in collegiate golf history en route to being named the 2011 Jack Nicklaus Award and 2011 Fred Haskins Award winner, following Kevin Chappell (2008) as the second player in school history to earn both awards. Cantlay was also named the 2011 Phil Mickelson Award winner (bestowed annually to the national freshman of the year), the 2011 Pac-12 Conference Golfer of the Year, and a 2011 All-America First Team honoree.

Named the 2012 Ben Hogan Award winner -- one of the three national player of the year awards in collegiate golf.

With his four individual victories as a freshman in 2010-11, became the fifth player in UCLA history to earn four-plus individual wins in a season. Previous players to accomplish the feat were four-time PGA TOUR winner Duffy Waldorf (seven in 1983-84), 15-time PGA TOUR winner Corey Pavin (six in 1978-79, five in 1981-82), six-time PGA TOUR winner Steve Pate (four in 1982-83) and Jay Delsing (four in 1981-82).

Runner-up finisher at the 2011 U.S. Amateur Championship, contested at Erin Hills; he fell to Kelly Kraft in the championship match. Notably defeated Russell Henley in the second round. The year prior, reached the semifinals of the 2010 U.S. Amateur, falling to eventual champion Peter Uihlein.

Runner-up finisher at the 2011 Western Amateur; he lost to Ethan Tracy in the championship match.

Earned the 2011 Mark H. McCormack Medal, presented annually to the No. 1 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking after the U.S. Amateur or European Amateur (whichever finishes last).

Represented the United States at the 2011 Walker Cup and 2011 Palmer Cup.

Won the 2010 California High School State Championship while competing for Servite High School.